The state of my economy feels worse.

[CoffeeCat]

We're being told that the economy is "getting better". I feel like the walls are closing in.

All I hear about it more layoffs and people seem to be more scared than ever. People
seem to be hunkering down like never before too--restricting spending and paying off
credit cards. The days of reckless spending with plastic seem to be gone.

Last year was an ok year for us. Despite a 20 percent paycut for six months, we managed. However,
this year feels more bleak. My husband's business is not doing well. Sales continue to fall. He
works for an Internet Service Provider--a service that most people can't do without. However, there
are many cancellations. Things don't look so hot.

I'm a stay-at-home mom. We've sacrificed a great deal so I could stay at home with the kids. Now,
we're facing the possibility of my husband's job going away and the fact that I've been out of the
workforce for a decade. I quit a pretty successful career in PR, to stay at home. Jobs in the
writing/PR/marketing field are scarce. I always assumed that my worst-case scenario would be starting
at entry level. Now, that worst-case scenario would be a dream come true.

We live in interesting times, that's for sure; a new reality.

I'm not feeling sorry for myself. I know there are many in worse situations. It's just the reality in
which our family finds itself. The ground seems to be shifting underneath our feet--and you hope
and pray that you survive whatever is coming.

Many families have been devastated by this economy. They've lost jobs and homes. However, I'm sure there
are many families, like mine, who haven't lost everything yet--but they are worried and struggling under
a new reality.

It's very hard.

[FirstLight]

1. Prayers & hugs to you & husband for hanging in there

I agree 1000% and I know that the 'recovery' is nothing more than numbers manipulated on a screen somewhere.
Because too many if us are still in struggle, and fearful as you are of slipping into full blown panic & survival mode

Don't know what to tell you, but my fingers are crossed for you to pull through and for us All to be truly recovering somehow soon.

[CoffeeCat]

2. Thanks so much...

...we're being very proactive.

It just feels as if nothing is a "sure thing" anymore. Your job may or may not be there
in the future.

I feel fortunate that I was able to be a stay-at-home mom for many years, but I never thought
making that choice would make me feel vulnerable, from an economic standpoint.

Anyone working in manufacturing is in a similar boat. Unless you're a bank executive or
part of the top 1 percent, there isn't a lot of security.

It's a new reality for many--in all different kinds of situations.

Thanks for your kind words. Best to you, in these interesting times! :)

[Patchuli]

3. I know exactly how you feel

but we're all in this together, for what it's worth. :grouphug:

[CoffeeCat]

12. So true...

...and if the bad economy has a bright side--it's that people may begin
talking with one another and helping each other.

For so long--we've been cocooned inside our homes and hanging out in our fenced-in
yards.

Maybe this will bring our neighborhoods, communities and families closer together.

I think we're all going to need each other more, in the coming months and years.

:grouphug:

[Patchuli]

24. We need to get back to being communities

and lose the cocoon thing! People helped each other during the Great Depression. It may be sad but maybe all this awful stuff is what we had to get to to get back to what really matters?

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. I just hope the people in DC understand this

they need to invest in the people.

[Dappleganger]

11. They don't.

Honestly I think they live in a bubble.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. That they do

and partly it is done out of on purpose, and partly they do it on purpose.

[Lorien]

5. I'm without work and struggling to keep my home and health insurance

My sister is unemployed, as are many of my friends. Most of my neighbors have had their hours cut (some by half), are taking furloughs or are looking for work. My clients say that they are being inundated by calls from people desperate for work, but they have nothing to send out. I don't think that the MSM is being honest about how bad it really is. The government certainly isn't.

[CoffeeCat]

14. i'm sorry Lorien...

I know it must be very hard to be without work. I hope things turnaround for you and
that your situation improves.

I agree that the MSM is not being honest. I really hate that. I can deal with reality. It's much
easier than feeling crazy because the "green shoots and rainbows" malarkey makes people feel like oddballs
their own lives don't match the reality being sold on tv.

People need to know the reality, so they can be prepared.

Best of luck to you and your sister and friends too!

[midnight]

6. K&R so that the bailout for working families starts soon...

[Dappleganger]

13. We don't want a bailout

a handout, or whatever you call it.

We want a job which is in the US which actually lets you LIVE!

[grasswire]

7. thank you for sharing your story

I think the reality is beginning to sink in for many families. Things will not be what they were for some time, as the jobless "recovery" continues. I woke at 4 in the morning yesterday absolutely petrified for members of my family, in such precarious situations and with no nest eggs, under-employed.

Previously, if a person needed more income it was pretty simple to get a second job. Now..........

[CoffeeCat]

9. I think you pinpointed the problem...

In the past, if you became unemployed--you had to pound the pavement and find a job. Now, it's
just not that easy. Finding a job isn't a certainty.

Like you said--if a person had extra bills or had financial problems--you just ran out and got
another job. It's not that easy now.

If you have a problem--such as a job loss or hours are cut--it's just not as easy to improve
the situation.

That's where I sit right now. Five years ago, we assumed I would return to the workforce...la, la, la.

Now, I'm facing a dire economy--and who wants to hire someone who has been out of the workforce for a decade--when many applicants are overqualified because jobs are so scarce?

I'm sorry about your family members. I know it must be difficult seeing those you love going through
hard times. I think families will need to stick together and help each other out. You are kind and
caring to be so concerned. I hope that your nights are more restful! :hug:

[shireen]

8. i wonder if there are any devastated families in states that elect Republicans.

Really, I don't understand why we have so many of them in Congress to begin with. It just defies logic.

I hope things get better for you Coffeecat, you and your family deserve to feel secure and happy.

[TwixVoy]

15. I am amazed so many people don't realize this economic failure is above politics

It stems from fundamental issues from every area in this country and our relationship with the world. At this point it is completely above politics, and I believe is completely above any politicians ability to fix.

[shireen]

16. please explain ...

i realize it's a complex issue, but the Republicans have played a big role in ruining our economy.

[Dappleganger]

10. You're not alone.

We've been going through this for a year now (dh was laid off, but now contracting for less than 70% of his previous pay and there are no benefits). I really do need to return to working and hoped it could happen soon, but it's tough when kids are needing rides to work, etc. Hang in there, we've lasted a year and still are hanging on.

[CoffeeCat]

17. Thanks for sharing...

I'm glad your family is hanging in there, despite some setbacks. Sounds like you are rising to the
challenge and making the best of things. :)

[Dappleganger]

23. We all do what we have to do.

There are millions of more people who are much worse off than we are, too!

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Both my husband and I work for a school district that is going to lay off a third of its employees

at the end of this school year. The union is telling us that teachers who are not in high demand areas (Math, Science and Special Ed) with 10 years or less will likely get laid off. 10 years. That's really a mind blower.

Hubby is worried about his job. Mine is probably safer than his and both of us are eligible for retirement. So if we do get laid off at least we have some income to fall back on. But even so, it is stressful to go to work with so many people who are worried they are going to lose their jobs.

Very few people are retiring and it's because of health insurance. So I am pretty pissed off at Congress. There are so many baby boomers like us who would retire if we could afford it. That would free up jobs for younger folks whose salaries are lower than ours.

The other night we were at a restaurant and sat next to a lady who is a teacher in a neighboring district. She is 62 and has taught for 40 years but can't retire because she can't afford health insurance. She has health problems and says she barely makes it to school every day. My heart went out to her. She also said that even if she was 65 and could get Medicare, that Medicare plus the buy up plan she needs is way beyond her means.

What really gets me is we have much more affordable health insurance than so many others and we also have a pretty decent retirement plan. But it's still less than half of our income now. And who can afford to take a 50%+ cut in pay in this economy? Anyhow, I don't like to complain because I know we are lots better off than many of our friends. I also keep thinking of the teachers I work with who are 20 years younger than I am and in the middle of their career facing a layoff. Even if they could find jobs in other districts (which is pretty hard to do these days) they would take a huge cut in pay because that's what happens to teachers when you go to a new district. You start at or near the bottom of the salary scale. :mad:

[CoffeeCat]

21. We are also facing education cuts too...

...due to state budget cuts. I imagine that most states are having financial problems, due to
decreased revenue--and education will undoubtedly take a hit.

Our cuts are supposed to be announced soon. It is rumored that special education will be cut and most of
the associate jobs will be cut to part time without benefits. Most of those jobs are now FT w/benes. So,
that will be difficult for those people, as well as for the schools. We need those associates!

Our district cut the bus driver jobs and now contracts that work out. I hear they will do the same
thing with the school food-service workers. So, those jobs--which were once decent paying, FT and
with benefits--will now be less than FT and contracted out with no benefits.

It's just not fair.

I feel for the teacher who can't quit because health-insurance is so expensive. People are in really dire straights
and shouldn't be faced with such bleak circumstances--especially when they are working and thinking about retiring.
We're talking about teachers here!

Hang in there! :hug:

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. I just read about a district here in KS that is cutting its sports programs

Blew me away. I have never heard of cutting sports. Damn.

[obliviously]

20. Welcome to the new moneyless life style

It's part of the jobless recovery. If your a buzzard the economy is improving!